Ecclesiastes 2:1-11 – I said in my heart, “Come now, I will test you with pleasure; enjoy yourself.” But behold, this also was vanity. 2 I said of laughter, “It is mad,” and of pleasure, “What use is it?” 3 I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with wine—my heart still guiding me with wisdom—and how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. 4 I made great works. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. 5 I made myself gardens and parks, and planted in them all kinds of fruit trees. 6 I made myself pools from which to water the forest of growing trees. 7 I bought male and female slaves, and had slaves who were born in my house. I had also great possessions of herds and flocks, more than any who had been before me in Jerusalem. 8 I also gathered for myself silver and gold and the treasure of kings and provinces. I got singers, both men and women, and many concubines, the delight of the sons of man. 9 So I became great and surpassed all who were before me in Jerusalem. Also my wisdom remained with me. 10 And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. 11 Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.
THEME OF THE DAY: IT EXISTS IN ONLY ONE PLACE. Solomon tried it all and had it all. As we read today’s scripture, we see a man looking for the meaning of life, satisfaction from life, and contentment in life. And boy did he search. He sought it in material wealth; nope. He sought it in entertainment; nope. He sought it in ease and comfort; nope. He sought it in human relationships; nope. And he sought it satisfying his physical passions; nope. The richest man in the world who could buy anything and anyone to satisfy his inward cravings came to the end of every search with the words, “All was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.”
We would be wise to steer away from the sad trail of life King Solomon traveled. We would save ourselves a lot of money, time, energy, and sadness if we took his advice and warning starting today. He is a wise counselor who not only gives us words to ponder, but a picture of a life to avoid.
When God created our first parents, Adam and Eve, He built in their “DNA” a place which could only be filled by the Lord Himself. God ensured that life would only have meaning, purpose, satisfaction, and contentment if it was centered on Him. And that wasn’t just for the first humans who walked upon the earth. Since the fall of humanity and the break of our relationship with the Lord, there is a vacuum in the soul of every human that can only be filled by God, Himself. We experience this emptiness as we try to find contentment and meaning in life with everything and everyone else but God. Should we follow the foolishness of King Solomon, we will meet the same dead ends at each turn. Yes, God gives us good things in life. The many things King Solomon obtained were good things. There is nothing wrong with obtaining material possessions, having healthy relationships such as family, and enjoying wholesome entertainment. The problem exists when good things replace the best thing. It is when we seek to find satisfaction and purpose in anything or anyone apart from the Lord that good things become sinful things; even idols.
Yes, King Solomon serves us well as a model, not to follow, but avoid. There is only one place to find rest and contentment in our souls. It only exists in one place and that in the Lord Jesus. He created us for Himself, redeemed us for Himself, and will ensure we are totally satisfied in Himself.
PRAYER: “Father, open my eyes to see the only satisfaction in life is in Your Son.”
QUOTE: “God created us to be fully content in Him alone and that will never change.”